WW2_Casualties

World War 11 Casualties

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Watchorn James Bayly

The following is taken from TASMANIANS AT WAR IN THE AIR 1939-1945 with the kind permission of Brian Winspear

James Bayly Watchorn was studying law at the University of Tasmania when World War 2 broke out.

Born in Hobart in 1921, he attended the Hutchins School , where he showed talent as a writer, and did well at sport. He enlisted in the R.A.A.F in 1941 and trained at Flinders, Vic and 26 EFTS in South Rhodesia . He was posted to No 55 OTU Unsworth, England for training as a Hurricane pilot, specializing in reconnaissance and air combat. In 1942 he was transferred to No 128 Squadron at Hastings , Sierra Leone , doing reconnaissance for the Royal Navy in N Africa . Later he went to Gambia , where he flew Spitfires, Hurricanes, Defiants and Hudsons , and on one sortie spotted the battleship ‘ Richelieu ” which was later sunk. In May 1943 he was posted to No. 247 squadron at Fairlap, Essex in England and then to R.A.F. Station at Gravesend Kent flying Typhoons on air sea rescue and reconnaissance.

In Oct 1943 he was asked to test fly a new version of the Typhoon, but was killed when the aircraft crased near New Romney in Kent . He was last seen fighting with the controls to keep the plane airborne and away from nearby houses.

An English Literature Prize is awarded annually at The Hutchins School in his memory.

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Tasmanian War Casualties, Honouring the past, building understanding.